A Blog dedicated to the socialist-realist art of the communist period in Central and Eastern Europe which can be found in public places, including murals and mosaics on public buildings and statues and sculptures of triumphant workers, scientists and soldiers building socialism together. These are photographs I've taken over the years while travelling throughout the region.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Wall Mural on the National Museum in Tirana, Albania

This mural is found above the entrance to the National History Museum of Albania in the capital, Tirana. It dominates the city's central square, making it one of the most recognizable images of Tirana. The mural portrays proud and strong Albanians defending the territory of their country against foreign invaders during every period of the nation's history, including the ancient Illyrians, the resistance to Turkish rule led by Skanderbeg, the partisan fighters of World War Two and the communist era under Enver Hoxha. The only change that has been made since the end of the communist period is that a red star has been removed from the flag. The museum itself is equally fascinating and makes a great introduction to the complexities of Albanian history. A number of important artifacts were looted during the 1990's, but there is still an impressive collection of exhibits on display.

About Me

This blog is based on my personal travel experiences while living and working in Russia, Slovakia, Poland and the Czech Republic for ten years. I am now an academic in the field of East European studies, focusing on the politics and history of Slovakia and western Ukraine. I have a particular interest in the folk culture and wooden architecture of the Carpathian mountains. Eastern Slovakia and Ukraine's Zakarpattya region are my favourite places to explore - I'm familiar with those regions on a village by village level.